"Well well well knave, it seems we have the upper hand here. A boat won't go very far without it's 1st mate will it?Which means you'll be stuck in this flea pit for some time if you don't get this... brigand back soon, no?

"I am a man of honour, and considerable breeding of course, and know the measure of a man - and his value... Let's say 40 gold crowns and the sorry excuse for a human is yours again. Rest assured he will remain unharmed whilst in my care, I am neither bellicose nor cruel, but rouse my wrath with underhand dealings or trickery and the memory of my sword will become all too real again for you."

The streets were darkening, the lamplight flicker playing tricks on the eye.A green glow from across the square made the old knight pull up and signal his men to slow,"Now it's not every day the buildings glow like that eh Iolanthe?""No my liege, a dark omen indeed""I can sense an adventure ahead Iolanthe, my left knee aches every time adventure is round the corner!""Yes my liege. But your left knee has always ached, since the battle of Cracy""True, true. But this is a different ache."

The band crept slowly forwards, mostly because Albert wasn't as quick on his feet as he used to be. The green glow suddenly brightened and a loud raucous laugh sprang up, and the taint of death floated on the flabby breeze towards the knights. A crack of black powder erupted from high above them and a crossbow bolt twanged in a wooden beam by Iolanthes head.

"'Ave at 'em me hearties, the ole windbags'll be scupper'd in no time!"

A volley of arrows answered the pistol shots and battle was joined in the square. The men at arms charged forwards spear heads glinting menacingly in the flame light. Albert le Vague's gleaming broadsword, Amazing Grace, carved her way through the pirate bodies cutting down their captain and his shipmates. Blood smeared along the blades, black and thick; unnatural-looking blood as if it were ages old and spilt already.

"Press home my brave knights, these dogs have no heart for battle! Alain, where in the name of the Lady are you going? This way man, we must go forth!"

As the sun rose sluggishly over the high walls, it flowed over the knightly band as they stood in a circle over the limp body of a pirate,"You, knave. Wake yourself." Albert prodded the form with the tip of his sword. "Lazy good for nothing... Rodney, Norman bring him with us, he may be of use. Come"

"Er, which way was home again my lord, I seem to have got all turned around in the fight."

"My good peasant, we came in from the east, no no the south east. It is this way." Shaking his head in mild mannered bemusement, Albert set off north to take his men home.

So much for the concentrated effort against the pernicious Black Gulf Corsairs!

In an otherwise quite week on the island the only report of fighting (outside of the troubled Vercuso) has come from Caragio: The Corsairs ambushed a Naval Alliance force escorting the Alliance’s solitary fragment of the Key.

Do the Naval Alliance have a traitor in their midst who betrayed the movement of their bit of Rackham’s Key? Spies are also a possibility, as are the dark arts. Either way, the Corsairs seemed to know where the Key was and attacked the army escorting it at its most vulnerable point. They now have all four fragments and possibly the location of the Lost City of the Old Ones!

In the aforementioned Vercuso after a concerted effort the Brethren of the Sea have edged into control of a slightly larger portion of the harbour town than the other factions. More trouble is to come no doubt – it seems like the clash of warbands there will go on as long as there is loot to be found.

Through the lens he could see a vast bell being pushed out of the water. Alarge white Skaven stood on top directing its followers as arcs of magicalenergy pulsed around it.

'looks like we get the rats instead.' a savage grin crossed Prospero's face.'Payback time. All units prepare for battle. War machines, fire when ready.Jaque, Deploy the wreakers in that wood on the left we don't want to beoutflanked like Miranda's forces were at Vermunte'

Prospero lead his knights across the long beach towards the massing horde,shells from both sides cris-crossing the picturesque bay.

A unit of clanrats had advanced towards the knights but once charged theyturned and fled back to the water. Seeing an opportunity Prospero redirectedhis knights into the Bell and its attendant unit. The enraged seer shouteddown taunts to Prospero but was surprised when he was suddenly faced by theMean looking Warden atop his own screaming Bell.

Prospero struck once. The fey energies of the bell protected the seer.

Prospero struck again. The fey energies stopped the blow but its energy wasfast being depleted by the widowmakers blows.

Prospero swung a last blow and the fey energies shattered as the seer's bodywas catapulted back into the ocean.

Rejoining his knights they set about destroying the unit. Enemy unitsstarted to get into flanking positions to counter the knights savage attackBut luckily, the demoralized skaven broke before their brethren couldcapitalize on their deployment.

Chasing down the rats and casting the ruined bell into the sea, Prospero andhis knights escaped the danger.

Granny Faddock the village ogre came and went. Tom the scout came and was rapidly promoted! Pigs died, but Leon seems to have a limitless supply… Anyway, the halflings are now in the lead, being the first warband to keep hold of four territories.

1. The Nezumi Ninjas bumped into the Knights of the Woeful Sense of Direction while they were hunting for treasure in Hangman’s Square. The ninja ratmen came off best and took the Square as their third territory.

2. Soon after, Kommodore Deffgit and The Ogresuns found One Eyed Willy and his Gentlemen of the Inferno hunting for bloodfane shards at the Emperor’s Bane. The human pirates saw the orc pirates off, but it was a lucrative time for all concerned.

3. Meanwhile, the Knights, fresh from their fight with the ninjas, attempted to break through a band of halflings at The Hole in the Wall Inn. Gordo Rams-eye's Catering Corps were deployed in two very tall towers and won the day, taking control of the Inn.

4. At the same time, the Nezumi Ninjas proved victorious again in the vicinity of Slippery Jack’s Underwater Cave, seizing control of the murky waters and protecting it from the decomposing clutches of Raziel’s Court. The ratmen were now in control of four territories, and thanks to their rum stash back at Sailmaker’s Guildhouse were becoming a force to be reckoned with…

5. One Eyed Willy joined forces with Raziel’s Court and took the fight to the inebriated ninja ratmen in a skirmish over the Sailmaker’s Guildhouse. The impromptu necromantic alliance saw off the skaven, and Raziel was confident he would soon be in possession of the guildhouse’s rum stash. But the Nezumi Ninjas desperately pulled their forces back, relinquishing control of both Hangman’s Square and Wreckers Point just to keep their paws on the Sailmaker’s Guildhouse!

6. Seeing that Hangman’s Square was again unoccupied, Raziel’s Court and One Eyed Willy turned on each other in a bid to occupy it, but their fight was inconclusive and Hangman’s Square remains up for grabs as it was at the start of the day.

7. Meanwhile, Gordo Ramseye succeeded in stopping the Ninjas from reclaiming Wreckers Point, but let go of the Boarding Party Inn lest his caterers be spread too thinly. Granny Faddock fell to the skaven leader, a crime for which he will surely pay now Gordo has recovered the swine flu.

With four territories, the halflings have pushed the greenskin pirates firmly into second place, controlling three regions along with One Eyed Willy’s pirates. Most of the other warbands still hold two locations under their sway, the knights making slow and steady progress and their leader now has his beloved horse. The ratmen have been ousted for the time being but so long as they have The Sailmaker’s Guildhouse they are a grave threat to Vercuso. Despite their strength as a warband, Raziel’s Court is still languishing in last place with only the Farms to their name, but apparently the vampire is fully recovered now…

The Naval Alliance pulled off another minor coup over the Black Gulf Corsairs this week. In revenge for the ambush last week they sent in a small team of agents to the Corsair’s stronghold at Caprio and stole the first fragment of the key from under their noses! Apparently the Alliance party, dressed unconvincingly as Pirates, walked in through the Corsair’s guards with being questioned and extracted the fragment of Rackham’s key from a locked strong-room. They hid it in a folded jolly roger and walked out of town with it tucked under the arm of their smallest agent, again with being check or challenged. I imagine the cat o’nine may well still strippin’ the flesh from the backs of the Corsairs on guard that day!

Vercuso was this week the same hotbed of activity it was last week. Street fighting among the small warbands, sent by their factions to secure the town and its loot, continuing to spread throughout the harbour town as each group struggles to take possession of key landmarks. The warbands are not limiting their aggression against their rival factions either – they seem just as happy to stab an allied warband in the back!

Elsewhere, Ragil and Roba were the focus of the Swordwind and Naval Alliance attentions respectively. Both fell quickly to swift and concentrated attacks. The Brethren of the Sea and the Black Gulf Corsairs were both conspicuously quiet beyond the walls of Vercuso.

The barding was unfurled, the leather wrappings loosened from the impressive cavalry lance and Sir Albert le Vague artheritically donned his battered and dulled armour to climb atop Rosanante, hoping to create an inspiring vision for his men.Reaching up for the pommel, his helmet visor slipped shut. Eventually he made it into the saddle and he leaned forward to pat Rosanante on her neck. And slapped her right buttock.

Ahoy! Avast! Thar be me matey Stinky Pete I spy with me blinky eye, tied up with yar booty! Surely thee be not wanting the odorous dog, why not pass him back and I'll dissmiss that wee sprog into the bargain and we say no more about it? Yarrr

He keeps stealin me best grog anyways.

The Beanbag wrote:

Sir,we do not trade with ignoble cutthroats. On the other hand, we would like a new horsey... Erm our demands will be sent forthwith, upon guidance of our Blessed Lady.

spider_mat wrote:

due to the ruthless attack upon the Nezumi Ninjas

10 Gc for the head of Mad Cap'n One Eyed Willy

10gc for the pierced heart of Raziel

30gc and some suprise equipment for them alive

i just need to find out how to turn them into pets

also either warband leader comeing up with the goods will recive a full pardon and the reword halfed

Kommodore Deffgit poked his head round the corner and peered under the archway of the Old Wall inn. In the distance cautious figures picked their way through the ruins, simultaneously searching and keeping a weather-eye on the towering buildings around them.

The early morning mists that had clung to the ground since dawn slowly burned away as the bright, sunny, late summer day wore on but it was still chilly at noon when the he Ogresuns faced One Eyed Willy and the Gentlemen of the Inferno once more: The rivalries within the Brethren of the Sea yet again spilled violently onto the streets. Both pirate crews planned to loot the ruins while they struggled for control of the rotting land-locked hulk Emperor’s Bane and the streets around it.

“I can see them blasted picaroons lukin’ over by the gallows,” he said “looks like they’ve found some’ert.”

Barnacle Nog nodded and idly thumbed the razor-sharp edge of his cutlass blade. As the Infernos passed the warehouse just in front of the Starboard Watch the Orcs moved forwards, crowding into the shattered wooden building, chuckling quietly and occasionally “shushing” each other.

A few hundred yards to the south of the Kommodore, Wyrdtoof stood on the roof of a hovel with one foot on a gang-plank. At the other end of that gang-plank was the Emperor’s Bane with loot aplenty on board. The Larboard Watch dashed aboard her, Dread Pirate Rogurtz nimbly ran up the rigging to the crow’s nest and secured the first item – a silver spyglass (which was entirely useless but valuable non-the-less). Scupper Lug nabbed the second as Willy and his Mates approached the other gangplank, which led from the port side gunwales of the Emperor’s Bane to the street below.

Barnacle Nog, Salty Ogbad and Kommodore Deffgit sprinted up a narrow alley towards the rear of the group of Infernos who had grabbed the bag of coins from the gallows.

Things started getting messy! The Infernos at the foot of the gangplank onto the Emperor’s Bane were giving a battering to any Ogresun fool enough to venture down it and were slowly forcing their way up, One Eye’d Willy leading the push. The Ogresuns who had attempted an ambush to the north were also getting pistolled at close range.

Deffgit decided that enough was enough – they had most of the loot so the last bag of gold wasn’t worth the effort. “Fall back ladz!” he cried “Let the dogs have their prize.”

Persecution ComplexAs any self-posed-to-power Skaven, Skrikit is sure that if his actions don't came out as expected it is because of some nefarius scheme orchestreted by his many enemies in Skavendom. But sometimes the schemer could be closer than expected...Everytime the Hold Rats loose a game and Skrikit is not taken out of action he must take a Ld test. If passed he will blame some distant rival Assassin and nothing happens. It the test is failed Skrikit will be sure the schemer is hiding among his own rats. To show everybody who's the leader, Skrikit will take out of action a random determined member of the warband entitled to gain experience (roll for wounds as normal, re-rolling any 56, 61, 65 and 66 on the Heroes Injuries Chart). His self-confidence now boosted, Skrikits gains D3 re-rolls for the next game.

We are making good inroads to the re-taking of Sartosa. I have put mycunning plan into action. Roba is now in the hands of the Corsairs thanks toour allies losses over the weekend so I have pulled our troops out of thatlocation.

I have managed to locate a barrel of your favorite Sartosan Rum.It is of a favorable vintage and will be sent on the next ship.

The Karlsberg Garrison was annihilated in action against some Saurusspearmen.

Good news! The Scuttle-but and Anchor has re-opened in Senelite. Old Bess isstill running the kitchens.

Grok-nar put paid to another leadership challange this week. This time from those pointy hats the chaos dwarves. The earth shakers made it a very long slog across the battlefield in the centre but out on the flanks things were going a lot smoother with the saurus cav dealing with one while the terradons, sallie and stegadon took care of the other before meeting in the middle just in time to help the saurus out against those blunderbuss'.A win in the howling marshes.